The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-07-02
A BIRD'S-BYE VIEW OF THE SITUA-
TION.
From the New York Herald,

.TI0N.
From the New York Herald.l
The democratic administration is
thoroughly American. Ii Is character
lied by caution, conservatism and hon.
esiy. 1t has afforded the people the
pleasant consciousness Of stable pros.
perity. Its policy is not pine wood
with thin but heavily vanished
veneer, but good, solid oak all through.
The people have a growing confidence
III 1t, and the business men of the con-
tInent, who have great stake in the
government, know that when they
want to put their finger on it it will be
there.
On the other hand, it is becoming
more evident every day that the repub-
llcan leaders who are at the front ave
sectional in their prejudices, and have
not yet conceived of whole or Q
united country. The party itself is
made OF the same stern stuff as OF old,
but the men at the fore are Pecksniffs
OF American politics, whose business
is to swap "great moral ideas'' for pub
lie preferment. t4l -
Mr. Blaine is ''fuller of virtuous pre-.
cept than cOpybOOk;" Senator Sher-
man has mobile countenance, which
wears smile in Nashville, Tenn, and
q furious scowl in Springfield. Ill. and
General FairchiId does the convulsion
act, with all the proper contortiOns Of
agony, when the south il mentioned,
and rushes wildly about distributing
his large stock of palsies. These can
didates wish it distinctly understood,
as did Mr.. Slyme in Martin Chuzzle-
witt" that they have '.infernally fine
touched chords in their naturesh-but
they sigh tor the perQuisites of Office
all the same.
If any one of these aSpirants should
attain his personal ambition this coun-
try would have q very exhilarating If
not a very prosperous career during
the next four years. With the brilliant
genius of Mr.. Blaine at the head of
national affairs it would be IA easy to
get into foreign complications a. to
| roll of log. When you have q set of
Fourth of July fireworks In the white
house, elected because they are fire.
works, you must expect them to reach
out tor lucifer match aud set them
selves off when the opportunity oifers.
Well, y foreign war is not exactly
what We want just now. We can fight
like tigers when we must, but we are
the best natured family OF tigers in the
world II We are let alone. Mr.. Blaine
might, no ever, stir as up with q long
diplomatic pole, on the ground that we
can whip all creation and it is our pa
triOtic duty to show them that we can.
lie could deal with foreign affairs with
chip on his shoulder, aud politely
ask England if she wouldn't like to
| knock it off. tf-t Hs
The effect OF such q policy on the
business OF the country would not be
exactly sedative, SO to speak. On the
contrary, it wOnld knock our CONNER
cial interests into smithereens. You
see, we are a nation of hard workers
with our bread and butter to earn. To
tell the plain truth, the American peo-
pie are after the pennies. Our preach
ers tell us that filthy lucre is the root
of all evil, or words to that effect; but
nevertheless we are industriously dig
ging to get that root ont of the ground.
And when we succeed we nolice that
the preachers are not avcrse to accept
ing q bit OF the snsg end of this s'root'
and going to Europe tor q few months
to cure suddenly acquired bronchitis.
Yes, we are mOney-lOving nation.
We want all the comforts and luxuries
Of life and propose to have them. But
we are neither mean nor sordid. On
] the contrary, we know how to use
money gracefully and generously.
The president, therefore, who rules
the country with an even hand and
keeps it prosperous is our man. There
is California, tor example, r0osting Oh
the Pacific limb Of our genealogical
tree. She is happy because she is
making money. She has q governor
who has managed to pay large state
deficit without borrowing. OF course
he is popular. The republican busi-
ness men vote for him because he stops
stealing and lowers taxes. They like
Cleveland tor the same reason. They
see that he has no fireworks inside Of
him which may 60 of at any minute
and set the whole concern in blaze.
He wants the country to get on finsn-
cialIy. and will not put rock on the
track and wreck the train for the sake
Of personal nOtoriety. California is
seriously thinking of indorsing the
democratic ticket next year because
the democratic administration means
national prosperity, while the republic
Cal; outlook is in the other direction.
| With General Fairchild in any high
Office the country could have the novel
pleasure OF sitting down on volcano.
He is an able man, a very charming man
personally, we are told; but politically
he is kind of q cOy0te-empty, hum
cry aud bowling for Office. He has
business especially in the man
uiacture of varied assortment of
| curses: He can certainly get up more
steam in five miuutes-withOut fuel
aud burst into flinders more completely
than any other man in the country.
One spread eagle does not seem to
satisfy his ambition. He keeps q
whole flock on hand, with a pair of
expansive wings strapped to his own
shoulders, aud when they flap and he
scars alOft it is q sight for gods and
men.
When Blaine was getting up hand
some row abroad the general could get
up full grown rumpus at home. Be-
| tween the two we might have q very
animated time. The general has
happy faculty OF stirring up old issues,
aud by commendable industry he might
set the south and north at odds w ith
4
| split the country into two or three dis
tinct and turbulent dynasties. iq-
Under the leadership of men like
Blaine, Sherman and the general the
republican party is admirably equipped
for mischief. There is little to choose
between them. At whichever one we
look we instinctivelv exclaim, "Behold
the moral Pecksniff!" They are all so
patriotic that they are ready to sacri-
flee everything for-oface. They are
| eager to save the country and are de-
termined to do it even If they have to
run tor the presidency for that sole
purpose.
Noble sonls! The people are listen
ing to their eloquent pleas, but in 1888
they will simply remark, Declined
with thanks"
HUNTING FOB NATURAL GAS.